Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Warm and Welcoming

My first post, Shelter From The Home and Hearth, was also my first contribution to the Carnival of Genealogy. I was so new, my hand shook as I hit the blog submission button. I had been reading the Carnival of Genealogy and its famous bloggers for months. They and their writing was so polished, so professional. I wanted to test the waters, but I was certain that I was not worthy. With that first Carnival post I was about to prove my worth to the world.

I'm not the only one whose family lived in the same building they worked in... footnote Maven shares with us Shelter From the Storm, Stories of the Home and Hearth. posted at footnote Maven. You'll never guess where the footnote Maven's great grandfather lived. The only hint I'll give you is that it's a world famous building. Check it out, it's a great story!

These were the Old Guard and I was jumping into the deep end of their blogging pool. As you can see, Jasia was kind, generous, and welcoming. Encouraged, I wrote more Carnival submissions. Then, miracle of miracles, I received my first comment. A comment for my Carnival submission, Only Woman-Built Boat On Long Island. Here is that memorable comment and my response:

Apple said...

A very interesting story. Your comment that she evaded her family for most of her life is very intriguing. I hope you'll share more about her in the future as you learn more.

The footnoteMaven said...

The stories of Lois Green have not always been kind. They are the type of family lore that you must be certain of before you plant your ancestral foot in your mouth.

Apple holds a special place in my blogging heart for being the first to comment on an article I had written, an article that was my submission to the COG. You have no idea how excited I was, then again, perhaps you do.

Then I wrote a post about being hopelessly addicted to the COG and designed my first badge.

Another blogger warned me of the perils of my addiction.

While I understand your addiction to the Carnival, I trust you will keep it in proper proportion.

GENAnon is currently supporting hundreds of family historians who have stepped over the line into genealogical addiction.

By all means Blog the Cog (and I like your widget very much) but please, for the sake of your families, don't let it goo too far.

Kind RegardsThomas Hamburger JnrGENAnon

But I was hooked.

July 4, 2007, I created my first Carnival specific poster attached to the post for the 28th Edition Surnames COG. I created other posters and they can be seen in the COG Posters :: A Retrospective.

People have often asked why I create a Carnival of Genealogy poster twice a month when the Carnival is Jasia's and not mine. It's really quite simple. I owe my blogging life to the Carnival and Jasia. It is my homage to her for my online start. I will be forever grateful.

I hosted the 29th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. It did not go smoothly. The subject I selected was Smile For The Camera. Heard that somewhere before? There was some trepidation by other bloggers as to posting photographs. Boy things have changed.

Another subject was selected and announced: "Having had the proverbial bucket of cold water thrown on the choice of topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, the footnoteMaven has officially changed the topic to: Moral or legal dilemmas in genealogy and genea-blogging, which ones have you had to deal with and how did you resolve them, if you did?" Deep, really deep! There were 15 submissions and six comments. Again, Jasia and the COG were there to encourage me:

Take a bow, Maven! Great job with this edition of the COG. Thank you so much for hosting it. I appreciate all your effort. And you found time to create a new graphic for the next edition too... I'm impressed! Jasia

My favorite COG posters have been the Swimsuit Editions:

And my favorite posts have been submissions to the COG; so from today until November 15, I will reproduce some of my favorite COG submissions and their posters.

The Carnival of Genealogy is a brilliant idea, just like its creator, Jasia. I would not be the footnoteMaven if it were for Jasia and the COG. Thank you BBF!

Thanks for explaining why you do the posters for CoG! I love them! And just think - you've gone from being "shy" about posting to facilitate & pull together a new ditial magazine! I really enjoy your posts!